Engine-cooling system



June 14, 1927. 1,632,584 L. P. BARLOW ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 5, 1927 In 2 672 Z077 Patented June 14, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

LESTER IP. BARLOW, 012 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ENGINE-COOLING SYSTEM.

Application filed January 3, 1927. Serial No. 158,514.

This invention relates to improvements in steam or vapor cooling for internal combustion engines of the automotive and other types.

One object of my invention is to prevent the hot liquids in the active portions of the system from passing through or intermingling with the liquids in the reserve supply, and thus keep the liquids in the supply cool at all times regardless of the speed of or the load on the engine.

Another object of my invetnion is to provide the supply conduit from the pump to the cylinder jacket with a continuing por- A tion which extends above the normal liquid level for the jacket before entering the jacket so that the latter will be prevented from emptying or draining through the pump when the latter stops.

The invention consists further in the matters hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a View of an internal combustion engine equipped with a cooling'system embodying the features of my invention;

and

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the check valve to be hereinafter referred to.

In the drawing, 1 indicates an internal combustion engine of the automotive type having a water jacket 2 about the cylinders of the engine, as in engines of this general type. The head 3 of the cylinder block is provided with an upwardly extending portion forming a steam dome 4 opening into the jacket and adapted to have the cooling water rise therein from the jacket to the level a.

Located in front of the engine is a con denser 5, which may be made like the customary automobile radiator with its upper and lower tanks or headers 6, 7 and interposed core structure 8, through which currents of air pass in the motion of the car and by the use of a fan 9, as in automotive design. A conduit 10 connects the dome 4 with the upper tank 6 of the condenser for conveying steam thereto, the steam being condensed as it passes down through the core 8 so as to be returned as condensate'to the cooling system of the engine. The lower tank 7 has a vent 11 to the atmosphere so that air may escape from the condenser as steam enters the same. I

Disposed below the condenser 5 is a tank or reservoir 12 of a size to contain a rela tively large body of'water as a supply and reserve for the system. The tank 12 has a filling neck 13, the cap of which has an openmg 14 for venting the tank at all times to the atmosphere." The maximum level of the water in the tank 12 is indicated by the dotted line b, and it is to be noted that this is below the bottom of the condenser.

A ,chamber 15 is disposed adjacent the reservoir 12, and both are connected through the bottom walls thereof by a conduit 16, in

which is a non-returnable means in the form thereby, although an independent drive may be employed. if desired. The intake of the pump 19 preferably faces the bottom of the chamber 15 and is located close to the same so as to be submerged in water at all times and thus insure a supply for the pump. A pipe 20 is connected with the discharge of the pump, and this pipe extends upward out of the tank to above the level a to be maintained for the jacket 2. There the pipe 20 is connected by a bend 21 with a similar pipe 22, which extends downward along the outside of the jacket 2 and is connected into the lower portion of the jacket, as at 23, for supplying water thereto when the pump is in operation. A pipe 24 connects the highest point of the conduit provided by the pipes 20, 22, as at the bend 21, with the steam space in dome 4: to break the suction effect in this conduit and thus prevent the jacket 2 from siphoning back into the chamber 15 and connected pipes through the pump when the latter stops.

A conduit 25 connects the upper portion of the jacket 2 with the lower portion of the chamber 15 so as to allow the excess liquids supplied to the jacket through the conduit 20-22 to return to said chamber.

The conduit 25 connects with the dome 4 at the water level a therein so as to maintain said level for the jacket and thus prevent lowering of the water in the jacket to allow the engine cylinders to overheat. The conduit 25 is sufiiciently large in diameter to offer aslittle resistance as possible to the return flow of li uids to the chamber 15.

In having-t e condensate from the condenser 5 and the overflow waters from the jacket 2 both flow to the pum 19 through the chamber 15, these hot liqui s do not pass through the supply tank 12, and thus do not raise the temperature of the liquid content of said tank. This is an im ortant feature in connection with steam coo ing systems, as the supply water is kept cool and not heated to lose its cooling effect as when the hot condensate and overflow waters are re uired to reach the pump through the sup y tank. By use of the non-return check va vs 17 in the connection between tank 12 and chamber 15, the hot liquids contained in and passing through the latter can not enter the tank 12 to mingle with the cooling water therein to heat the same. This further aids in keeping the liquid content of the supply reservo1r cool. By the entire arrangement, the high temperatures in the active portion of the system are not allowed to raise the temperature of the cooling waters in the inactlve portion of the system, and as a result the liquids in the reserve supply always remain cool regardless of the speed of or load on the engine.

The details of structure and specific arrangement of parts shown and described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vapor cooling system for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder jacket having a steam space above the same, of a condenser connected to said space to receive steam therefrom, a chamber to receive the condensate from said condenser and the overflow liquids from said jacket, a pump for forcing hquids from the chamber to sald jacket, a reservoir disposed out of the path of hot liquids circulated by the pump and containing a supply of reserve cooling liquid for the system, a connection from the reservoir to the chamber for supplying reserve cooling liquids thereto, and a non-returnable means in said connection.

2. In an internal combustion engine vapor cooling system which is open continuously to the atmosphere and operating at all times at atmospheric pressure, the combination with a cylinder 'acket, of means for supplying cooling liquids to said jacket inclu ing a force pump and a conduit connectmg the dlscharge o the pump to the lower a return connection portion of the jacket, said conduit having a continuing portion extending above the normal level for the liquids in the jacket so as to revent em tying of the jacket through sai conduit when the pump stops, and a return connection between the jacket and the pump.

3. In an internal combustion engine vapor cooling system which is open continuously to the atmosphere and operating at all times at atmospheric pressure, the combination with a cylinder jacket, of means for supplying cooling liquids to said jacket including a force pump and a conduit connecting the discharge of the pump to the lower portion of the jacket, said conduit having a continuing portion extending above the normal level for the liquids in the jacket so as to prevent emptying of the-jacket through said conduit when the ump stops, means to break the suction e ect in the conduit, and between the jacket and the pump.

4. In an internal combustion engine vapor cooling system which is open continuously to the atmosphere and operating at all times at atmospheric pressure, the combination with a cylinder jacket, of means for sup lying cooling liquids to said jacket includi discharge of the pump to the lower portion of the jacket, said conduit having a continuing portion extending above the normal level for the liquids in. the jacket so as to prevent emptying of the jacket through said conduit when the pump stops, a return connection between the jacket and the pump, a reservoir disposed out of the path of hot liquids circulated by the pump containing a reserve supply of cooling li uids therefor, said reservoir being connecte with the intake of the pump, and a non-returnable means in said connection.

5. In a vapor cooling system for internal combustion engines, a circuit containing hot liquids of the active cooling portions of the system, a force pump to circulate the li uids through the circuit, a reservoir dispose out of said circuit and containing a reserve supply of cooling liquid therefor, a connection rom the reservoir to the circuit, and a nonreturnable means in said connection.

6. In a vapor cooling system for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder jacket having a steam space above t e same, of a condenser connected to said space to receive steam therefrom, means providing a circuit for the hot liquids of the system and connected with the jacket for supplying liguids thereto, means for conveyt e con ensate from the condenser to said circuit, a reservoir vented to the atmosphere and containing a reserve supply of cooling liquid for the system, said reservoir bemg disposed out of said circuit so that nm a force pump and a conduit connecting th 7. In a vapor cooling system for internal combustion engines, the combination with a cylinder jacket having a steam space above the same, of a condenser connected to said space to receive steam therefrom, .a

chamber connected to the condenser to re-' ceive condensate therefrom, means including a force pump to supply liquids to the jacket from said chamber, a reservoir vented to the atmosphere and containing a reserve supply of cooling liquid for the system, said reservoir being disposed out of the path of the circuit through said chamber so thatnone of the hot liquids of the system pass through the reservoir, a connection from the reservoir to the chamber for supplying the cooling liquids to the system through said chamber, and a non-returnable means in said connection.

8Q .In an internal combustion engine vapor cooling system which is open continuously to the atmosphere and operates at all times at atmospheric pressure, the combination with a cylinder jacket having a steam space above the same, of a force pump below the jacket, suppl and overflow conduits connected with the discharge and intake sides, respectively of the pump, said overflow conduit opening into the jacket at approximately the normal liquid level to be maintained in the jacket, said suppl conduit opening into the jacket below sai level and having a continuing portion extending above said level, and a vent connection from the portion of the conduit above said level to said steam space.

9. In an internal combustion engine va por coolin system which is open continuously to the atmos here and operating at all times at atmosp eric pressure, the combination with a cylinder jacket having a steam space above the same, of a condenser connected with said space to receive steam therefrom, a chamber located below the jacket and the condenser and connected with the latter to receive condensate therefrom, a pump. having its intake disposed to draw liquids from said chamber, an overflow conduit connecting said chamber with said jacket with the opening of the conduit into the jacket at approximately the normal liquid level to be maintained in the jacket, a supply conduit connected with the discharge of the" pum and extending above the nor mal liquid level for the jacket and thence back to and connected with the lower portion of the jacket belowsaid level, and means venting the portion of the conduit above said level to said steam space.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature this 27th day of December, 1926.

LESTER P. BARLOW. 

